Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer: "As long as you're at Virginia Tech, you're probably going to remember April 16 every day. That's just part of it. Let's just continue to move on and never forget those people who died that day or their families or the (other) ones who were shot."

Cheryl Beamer, the wife of Frank Beamer, on the emotional tumult of the last 4 1/2 months.: "You think you've cried the last time, but then something triggers it again."

East Carolina coach Skip Holtz: "It was such an emotional environment for the Virginia Tech family and an honor to have the opportunity to be involved with it. The class of the entire organization … the sign of sportsmanship at the beginning of the game with the handshakes and the way the players interacted and intermingled. I thought it was a special day."

Virginia Tech cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris on his mixed emotions after the game: "It was relief and (I was) kind of sad a little bit because just to know those 32 victims. That little thing the band did (a postgame rendition of the alma mater) was for them. It was rough a little bit."

Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore on his feeling as he ran through the tunnel and entered the stadium: "It was a different feeling that I can't even put in words. You could tell just from the feeling in the air. It was a different atmosphere."

Virginia Tech linebacker Xavier Adibi:"It was unreal to see everybody jump around and see all the emotion in my players and teammates as we ran through the tunnel."

Virginia Tech linebacker Vince Hall: "Words can't explain it. Before we got off the bus, I already was anxious and hyped. It's a certain feeling you get. When you walk through the tunnel, there's like a certain aura coming out of the stadium. You see the balloons flying and I looked at (defensive end) Chris Ellis and said, 'Man, it's gotten really big out there right now.' ''

Virginia Tech graduate Wayne Hanks of Greenville, N.C., Class of 1963: "The football team, the community, the students, the faculty, everybody needs this day, so that we can move forward. We've got to overcome this, and we will overcome it, and Virginia Tech will move forward as a great university."

Virginia Tech freshman Will Sanford of Mechanicsville, Va., on whether he ever considered having second thoughts about enrolling after the shootings: "The tragedy just almost made me want to go here more just out of the fact that I felt like I needed to be here. Everybody feels the same way."

Virginia Tech junior Craig Thompson of Stafford, Va.: "This is the first time the students and alumni have really been able to gather together as one. Going back to classes has been a little easier and a little bit better as a step to (normalcy), but this football game will really help."

Virginia Tech senior Joshua Scherman of Virginia Beach, Va.: "Football at Virginia Tech is more than just a football game. Every year, when it's the first game, everyone gets prepared. We're known as a football town. There's class, and there's football."

Virginia Tech graduate Michael Christiano of Boston, Class of 1989. He was attending his first game since his graduation: "This is everything you know about Virginia Tech, everything I've seen about Virginia Tech from afar since graduating. It's spectacular."

Former Virginia Tech student John Houchens, who worked as a ball boy for the football team in the 1970s. Houchens attended Virginia Tech for three years before graduating from Atlanta Christian College: "This is an unbelievable place. The atmosphere. The community. I love everything the university stands for it. I like to call it a blue-collar place. These are hard-working folks, salt-of-the-earth kinds of people. They'll give you their shirt off their back and will do anything for you."